A massive appointment for Kilcormac. The only club in Offaly with the attributes to play Martin Fogarty's way, something that was natural to them during their three in a row years. That Jimmy Dunne is staying on is as significant.

Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

Will be interesting to see how Danny Owens gets on with Westmeath minors - has developed a big rep with KK so will be interesting to see how he gets on at inter-county. Could be the next Offaly manager. Kevin Martin has enhanced his reputation winning this year with Clogh Ballycolla in Laois and they should have beaten Oulart in Leinster. He will be one to watch for future also.

Fogarty is a huge appointment for KK. I'd reckon it will fall between KK and Rynaghs next year. Can see Coolderry slipping back into the pack. With Forde staying on, the Rynaghs lads will be going all out again.

Pretty sure Danny Owens had a stint with Offaly at underage....I think he managed Offaly Minors with some help with Noel Russell from Birr without much success back in 2004. I could be wrong on the year but was definitely involved.

'Babs keating 'resigned' as coach because of illness and fatigue. The players were sick and tired of him'

Managed the Minors in 2002, '03 & '04. Reached the Leinster final in 2003 with a win over Wexford. Led the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork for 50 minutes before being hit for two late goals.

Wing Back wrote:Pretty sure Danny Owens had a stint with Offaly at underage....I think he managed Offaly Minors with some help with Noel Russell from Birr without much success back in 2004. I could be wrong on the year but was definitely involved.

Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

massive appointment of kk ,especially for the lads that have come from minor winning teams of the last few year .M forgarty is a hurling coach and i think it will be great for them to be developed into senior hurlers the Kilkenny way .

Have been thinking about this lately. Offaly people seem to be now in a state of mind where they no longer feel they are as knowledgeable about hurling as Kilkenny folk. It isnt that long ago to a time where Kilkenny feared drawing Offaly in Leinster as Offaly regularly had the upper hand during the 80s and 90s. The wave of excitement that is about due to Martin Fogarty's arrival in KK is understandable but nonetheless a gross indictment of the state of our own confidence. Ok he will be a good coach with a lot of experience but there are plenty in Offaly who could be very good coaches if given that opportunity.

Our hurling people really need to look at themselves and back themselves more, upskill to more modern methods and go about driving the whole county scene back to a competitive level where it once was. While he may improve KK, there isnt much more he will do than Danny Owens has done. One Kilkenny man coming into such acclaim isnt going to fix or go any where close to fixing the ills of Offaly GAA. I feel Offaly hurling people need to be more proud and have more belief in themselves - players and coaches alike.

jimbob I think Danny Owens got a lot out of kk and i feel kk should have won the 2012 all ireland and last year leinster club title under his reign but i think a fresh voice was needed .I dont think there are any hurling coaches in offaly at the moment near M Fogartys standard .i feel lots of our great hurlers of the past get frustrated teaching guys think that were second nature to them . f foard is highly rated he with st rynagh , j kelly is a good coach he with coolderry ,both are galway men . Where are all these great offaly coaches , KK profile is high enough to attract a top manager that wasnt the case before D Owens .M Fogartys appointment is a big positive for offaly club hurling if he can raise the bar in kk everyone else will have to step up too . THAT can only be good

Look like a great appointment. How it works with two Coaches Forgarty and Dunne working together will be the key to how well this works.

Forgarty is still cutting his teeth at management level and this is a step forward for him( he be hoping).Kilcormac Killoughey have made huge steps forward in the last few years and to be able to attract a coach of this calibre is excellent for the club and the county.

Forgarty is mark in Kilkenny as the man who could replace someone when he retires. Kilkenny will want to make sure his Management skill are up to the top level if and when the job come available.